Endless rotary band cleaning device, particularly for cleaning a conveyor belt or supporting surfaces of objects

Abstract

The invention provides an endless rotary band cleaning device comprising an endless cleaning band mounted on three rollers disposed parallel to each other, namely: a drive roller, a guide roller and a secondary roller disposed in the space between the other two rollers. These rollers are arranged so that the lower part of the band follows a sinuous path comprising an upgoing path in which the band is washed and a downgoing path after which the band is impregnated with cleaning liquid. The upper part of the band situated between the drive roller and the guide roller serves as cleaning area.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An endless rotary band cleaning device, wherein the endless cleaning band is mounted on at least three rollers disposed parallel to each other, namely: two main rollers one at least of which is driven in rotation and a secondary roller disposed in the space between the two main rollers, these three rollers being adapted so that the cleaning band follows, in its upper part, a rectilinear path going from the first to the second main roller while forming a cleaning surface then, in its lower part, a sinuous path comprising two portions situated on each side of said secondary roller, namely: (i) an upstream portion which extends between the second main roller and the secondary roller, in which the band follows an upgoing course in a first zone and is continuously subjected to a washing with a washing liquid, and   (ii) a downstream portion which extends between the secondary roller and the first main roller, and in which the band follows a downgoing course in a second zone and is impregnated with a cleaning liquid for carrying out said cleaning.   
     
     
       2. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a first squeezer roller applied against a band portion passing over the first main roller. 
     
     
       3. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a second squeezer roller acting on the band at the level of the secondary roller, so as to extract the washing liquid remaining on the band. 
     
     
       4. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising two tanks, namely: a cleaning liquid tank and a washing liquid tank, respectively disposed under the upstream portion and the downstream portion, for separately collecting said liquids. 
     
     
       5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cleaning liquid tank is disposed so that the liquid contained in this tank and so that it may collect the liquid extracted by the first squeezer roller. 
     
     
       6. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said washing tank contains a washing liquid in which a lower part of the second main roller plunges. 
     
     
       7. The device as claimed in claim 1, which comprises a washing liquid injection ramp providing a succession of jets on the upgoing course of the cleaning band. 
     
     
       8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in the case where it serves for cleaning a transporter belt, the upper face of the cleaning band which forms the cleaning surface is held applied against the transporter belt and is driven so as to have a travel speed different from that of the transporter belt. 
     
     
       9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in the case where it is used for cleaning the bottom support surfaces of objects, it further comprises means for forcing said objects over said cleaning surface at a speed different from that of said cleaning band. 
     
     
       10. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said objects come from a conveyor having a determined travel direction, further comprising means for transferring the objects from the conveyor to the cleaning surface, means for driving the cleaning band in the travel direction of the conveyor, but at a speed preferably greater than that of said conveyor, and deflection means extending over said cleaning surface so as to slow down the advance of the objects and guide them towards an exit area from the device. 
     
     
       11. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said transfer means comprise an area for accumulating the objects. 
     
     
       12. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the exit from the accumulation area opens on to the cleaning surface at a position relatively removed from the edge of the cleaning surface adjacent the conveyor, and said deflection means extend obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cleaning band from said exit as far as an exit area situated on the conveyor, downstream of said transfer means. 
     
     
       13. The device as claimed in claim 12, further comprising means for cleaning the conveyor, said cleaning means being disposed in the gap between said transfer means and said exit area. 
     
     
       14. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said conveyor is formed of two belt transporters disposed end to end, namely: an upstream transporter and a downstream transporter and said cleaning surface is situated in a junction zone located between these two transporters, so that said transfer means cooperate with the upstream transporter and said exit area is situated on the downstream transporter.